Coming to a store near you this March 2015, is the newest Disney Kingdoms Comic Book Series. As a book lover and of course, a Disney Addict, any book about Disney is going to become a favorite. This new one called Big Thunder Mountain Railroad #1 is a collaboration between Marvel Comics and Walt Disney Imagineering. The first two books, Seekers of the Weird and Figment bring us new adventures inspired by the lands, attractions, characters and world of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts we all love.

Written by Dennis Hopeless and rising star artist Tigh Walker, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad#1 is part of an all-new 5-issue series based on this never-before-told saga of how the dangerous gold mine of Big Thunder Mountain became the haunted legend it is today.

The story focuses on the evil mine owner Barnabas T. Bullion and his teenage daughter Abigail. Bullion is focused on keeping his daughter safe from the dangers of the Wild West, while she has other ideas, including robbing her own father’s mine as a masked bandit! Complete with Earthquakes! Floods! And Dynamite-chewing goats! along with a protective special power that the mysterious mountain hides, this new series is on my wish list already. At 32 pages long and selling for $3.99 retail price, looks like I will be buying several copies for the Disney Addicts in my family.

My name is Loretta Garcia and as the Entertainment Writer for Chipandco.com, I spend my days, researching all the news and upcoming Disney entertainment. Check out my articles on the website and sign up for our newsletter today.

Disney twenty-three—the flagship magazine of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club—welcomes winter early, celebrating Disney’s new animated film Frozen. The cover story features exclusive interviews with the film’s cool voice actors Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, as well as a visit with the filmmakers as they bring Frozen’s wintery wonderland to life in Disney’s 53rd animated feature, coming to theaters this November.

Walt Disney lives on in “Every Picture Tells a Story,” an article showcasing newly discovered photos Walt shot with his personal camera. D23 Members will also get a special treat as former International Ambassador for Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Legend Marty Sklar welcomes readers inside his home to discuss the fascinating new book about his career shaping timeless Disney icons: Dream It! Do It!: My Half-Century Creating Disney’s Magic Kingdoms.

Disney twenty-three’s Fall issue also offers a look at Disney parks around the world. Readers journey across the Pacific Ocean to Tokyo Disneyland to celebrate its joyful 30th anniversary in “Happiness in the Park,” and head to Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mystic Manor to explore one of Walt Disney Imagineering’s most multifaceted and exhilarating attractions yet.

On its 25th anniversary, we take look at how the instant Disney classic, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, spectacularly combined animation and realism

PHOTOfiles: See the picture often referred to as the “best photo ever taken” of Walt

“D Society”: Tailgate at the Monsters University world premiere; see Jerry Bruckheimer accept his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and head to Burbank to tour the Disney Studio Lot with D23 Members

The Disney magic continues at www.D23.com, which will feature unique and member-exclusive stories that amplify the contents of D23’s glossy magazine. D23 Web Extras, online August 9, will complement the Fall issue of Disney twenty-three:

Interviews with Dane Cook and Teri Hatcher, the voices of Dusty Crophopper and Dottie in the upcoming animated feature Disney’s Planes

The Disney parks are planning for a Monstrous Summer and this includes renovations and expansions to the parks and resorts. Here is an update on what will be coming to Walt Disney World!

New Fantasyland is the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history and although most of the area has opened, there is still one central part under construction- the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster. This attraction will include both an indoor and outdoor track and swaying ride vehicles.

“I think it’s definitely going to add a dynamic, a lot of kinetic energy, which will be fun,” says new Walt Disney World President George Kalogridis. “I think of it as theater in the round,” says Mark Kohl, director of project management for the Fantasyland expansion. “Our guests will be able to walk 360 degrees around the coaster when it’s complete and experience it from all angles.”

The attraction is planned to slow down indoors and morph into a dark ride and then back into a roller coaster. “We’re going to take you inside this magical cave where millions of diamonds and gems are going to shine, and seven of our closest friends are all going to be hard at work in there,” Kohl says. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is expected to open in the spring 2014.

Another part of New Fantasyland that is still under construction is Princess Fairytale Hall, which will serve as a central gathering place for Disney royalty. “This is where all the royal subjects of Fantasyland, our guests, can go and meet them in sort of a royal receiving room,” says Jason Grandt of Walt Disney Imagineering. You will be able to see Cinderella, Rapunzel and other princesses as they rotate through there. Princess Fairytale Hall should be ready by the end of 2013, “in plenty of time for the holidays,” Kalogridis says.

With the addition of New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, there’s no better time to plan your next Disney World vacation! Destinations in Florida, the official travel agency of Chip and Co. can help you plan your vacation at no cost to you! Plus, you’ll receive lots of freebies when you book with them. You can read more about it here and request your free quote on the right side of the page! All Chip and Co. readers will currently get free Mickey ice cream bars when they book a Magic Your Way Package with Dining!

The California Grill restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is currently closed for refurbishment. According to Michael Scheifler, the food and beverage manager, the restaurant is a hot spot for anniversaries, birthdays and marriage proposals.

“Seating capacity stayed the same, but we changed quite a few of our tables to many more two-tops to accommodate the demand for those special occasions,” Scheifler says.

Some of the new features you can look for are mid-century modern theming with tones found in a sunset, new energy-efficient windows, and a wall of wine. California Grill is expected to re-open in late August or early September 2013.

It has 30 “locations where kids and families can pay a little closer attention to the things that they see, dig deeper into the educational side of it, earn badges that sort of elevate their stature as Wilderness Explorers over time,” Imagineer Alex Wright says. “There’s going to be a station where you can walk up and, through a little field viewer that we’ve got set up, you can experience how a predator like a tiger sees their prey in the wild,” Wright continued. Wilderness Explorers should be coming within a few weeks!

Finally let’s not forget Downtown Disney is undergoing a multi-year transformation, representing the largest expansion in its history. The renamed Disney Springs will double the number of shopping, dining and entertainment experiences, and feature an eclectic and contemporary mix from Disney and other noteworthy brands. For full details and pictures click here.

What are you most excited to see at Disney World?

With all of these additions and renovations happening at Disney World, it will only become even more magical! Your princess will love the new fairytale hall while you and your sweetheart need a romantic dinner at California Grill. There is something for everyone at Walt Disney World!

Would you like to plan your vacation to see these attractions first-hand? Are you thinking about a Disney vacation? Siera, an authorized Disney vacation planner, can help plan the perfect magical vacation for you! Plus, when you book a package, you will receive a free gift card! Contact her at siera@destinationsinflorida.com! When Siera isn’t helping plan Disney vacations, you can find her spreading magic on Facebook and Twitter.

The summer issue of Disney twenty-three, the magazine of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, features a mega summer movie preview of Disney’s upcoming theatrical releases. “D23 gets readers back in the saddle with filmmakers Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski for Johnny Depp’s upcoming The Lone Ranger; Billy Crystal talks about scaring up big laughs for Monsters University; the masterminds behind Marvel’s newest film, Iron Man 3, offer an inside look at how they’re bringing Iron Man back to basics; and John Lasseter shows us how the upcoming animated film Disney’s Planes will soar.”

Disney twenty-three will be offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members who will continue to receive the magazine as a benefit of their membership. Disney twenty-three is also celebrating 60 years of Walt Disney Imagineering with a special commemorative back cover. This edition will also feature special segments including:

“You Do What?” which will profile some of the most unusual jobs Imagineers have had over the years, from rock designer to castle architect.

“Imagineering Fact? Or Fiction!” debunks some of the long-time myths and legends of the Disney Parks.

“23 Imagineering Game Changers” and a salute from Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Tom Staggs to the thousands of creative individuals whose contributions have changed the way guests experience Disney around the world.

Your favorite Disney twenty-three sections will still be included as well:

An image of Walt and Lillian celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary just prior to the opening of Disneyland in “PHOTOfiles”

“A Walk with Walt” takes readers back to 1946, the year after the end of WWII- a transitional one for Walt and his company

In “D-Society,” Ne-Yo, Rod Stewart, and Tina Fey are among the stars shown visiting the Disney Parks

Are you a D23 member? What is your favorite part of Disney twenty-three?

When Siera isn’t helping plan Disney vacations, you can find her spreading magic on Facebook and Twitter. Are you thinking about a Disney vacation? Siera, an authorized Disney vacation planner, can help! Plus, when you book a package, you will receive a free gift card! Contact her at siera@destinationsinflorida.com!

Who here likes pirates? Well, good news for the fans of pirates because Disney just announced today that there will be a new interactive quest called A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas!The new quest will start in Adventureland in Magic Kingdom this Spring. The picture above is a rendering that the Walt Disney Imagineering team did to give you a good idea of what pirate fun is to come.

So what can you look forward to in this new quest? You will get to use pirate maps and magic talismans to help you complete different pirate raids throughout Adventureland. If you can help Captain Jack succeed in all his missions, you will become part of his new crew!

Arrrgggghhhh….let me know how excited are you to become part of Captain Jack’s crew?

Epcot’s Habit Heroes, an attraction that helps kids to defeat unhealthy habits is open again after undergoing an Imagineering re-do.

If you recall Habit Heroes opened last February and the attraction caused a huge amount of negative publicity when fat-acceptance groups said it’s characters were cruel stereotypes. With all of this bad press swirling around the internet Disney closed the attraction by March 1st and sent Imagineers back to the drawing table.

Habit Heroes 2.0 really only has 2 common elements from the first version – its name and location (it’s housed inside Epcot’s Innoventions Pavilion).

It was the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance that triggered a nationwide reaction with their negative review of the attraction. Disney and their sponsor of the attraction Florida Blue go the message loud and clear and went back to re-do the exhibit. Imagineers sought input from national experts in children’s health, weight and nutrition, including an obesity expert from Stanford University and a nutritional scientist from Cornell University.

Now as Habit Heroes 2 reopens, the attraction takes 12 guests at a time through the 4,700 square foot interactive attraction and as “recruits” they meet Director Jim and her agents Quench, Dynamo and Fuel. They tell the recruits about how they need to blast the enemies dehydration, inactivity and poor nutrition.

What’s different from Habit Heroes 1? Gone are all the original “Habit Heroes” including the physically fit “Will Power” and “Callie Stenics” who fought their pudgy animated villains “Lead Bottom” and “Snacker”. A heavy adolescent who starred in the first edition and then evolves into a slimmer fit teen is gone as well.

Peggy Howell of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is grateful for the revisions. “We really thank Disney and Epcot for listening to our concerns,” she said. “We appreciate that they heard us and took the necessary steps to tailor the message for every person, not one segment of the population.”

Did you have the chance to experience the first Habit Hereos? If so let us know what you thought of it! If you are going to Disney soon and see Habit Heroes 2 let us know how it is!

Next month The Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridianis scheduled to reopen again after a massive overhaul and change of ownership. In the past, the spa, as well as fitness centers and salons all throughout Walt Disney World resort, were owned and operated by private vendors. Disney is changing all that and everything will be taken back under Disney’s umbrella.

The new spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian will inherit a new name, amongst all the other changes and will be called, “Senses – A Disney Spa”. Along with the new name, other updates will include 15 treatment rooms, including whirlpools, lounges and steam rooms.

Most exciting to hear is the interior has been completely refurbished by the amazing Walt Disney Imagineering team and the new interior will be in keeping with the theme of the resort.

The grand reopening of “Senses – A Disney Spa” will be on December 17, 2012 and I for one am looking forward to checking it out! What could be better than a nice relaxing spa day in the middle of a wonderful Disney vacation?

Art from an array of Disney artists also will be on display and available for purchase. The Disney Artist Village tent at Pleasure Island will feature Disney character art created by masters from various Disney disciplines, including Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative design and development arm of The Walt Disney Company. At the Art of Disney, artist Dave Avanzino will create art pieces using prop-like elements and fonts based on signs and attractions found around Disney theme parks. Both locations will feature artist appearances throughout the weekend.

For the first time ever, the event will feature an Emerging Masters area, where more than 30 juried up-and-coming artists will showcase works and compete for awards. Guests also can become part of the festival with interactive fun. Various activities presented by Michaels will be available, including “Make It Take It” crafts, a do-it-yourself fashion show, and the “Michaels Master Mural” where guests can help create a mosaic-like mural.

Other activities will include complimentary face painting and live entertainment by performers from La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil, a chance to construct an 8-foot tall LEGO Hulk figure, domino games at Fuego by Sosa Cigars, live music at various venues, such as House of Blues and Bongos Cuban Café, and more. Admission and self-parking are complimentary at Downtown Disney.

Hey there guys and gals! It’s me… Anonymouse with a brand new quick tip about something exciting that is in the plans for Magic Kingdom, specifically Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Walt Disney Imagineering has let the cat out of the bag, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland is next on the list to getting a new enhanced queue. What does that mean? Think Haunted Mansion or The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh when you want to think enhanced queues. Both of these attractions have new interactive queues that provides the waiting guest a better experience and a chance to get to know and be more invested in the storyline of the upcoming attraction. You know a place kids and special people like Chip can play games to help with line boredom.

So what do you think about them apples? Let me know in the comment box below or over on Facebook.

Anywho that is all the Disney Gossip I have right now. For my past Gossip articles be sure to check them out here.

What do you get when you combine the imagination and magic of Walt Disney World with the mystery of fall’s favorite fruit? A truly exceptional exhibit– an over 1,300 square-foot free-standing cranberry bog to be exact! From Sept. 28 to Nov. 12, visitors to the 2012 EpcotInternational Food & Wine Festival will have a chance to feast their eyes on the beauty of the cranberry harvest and discover the cranberry’s secrets – from its unique taste to its rich heritage and long history of health benefits.

Multi-generation Ocean Spray® cranberry growers and Disney cast members will be on hand to share the mystery of the cranberry through this awe-inspiring display complete with 1,500 pounds of fresh, floating cranberries. Visitors will also have an opportunity to sample Ocean Spray® Craisins® Dried Cranberries, the official fruit snack of the Walt Disney World and DisneylandResorts, and enjoy them in an assortment of menu items at participating restaurants inside the theme park.

“The cranberry is an exceptional autumn fruit that people know very little about,” said Larry Martin, vice president global marketing, Ocean Spray. “Our collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering on this exhibit gives us an opportunity to showcase the cranberry to thousands of visitors who may never have the opportunity to see how truly stunning a cranberry harvest is, and then show them how to incorporate cranberries into everyday dishes and cuisines around the world.”

In addition to the harvest demonstration, guests visiting the Epcot International Food & Wine Festivalare encouraged to explore culinary demonstrations by Disney chefs, who will share their secrets on how to transform ordinary fare into full-flavored dishes using Ocean Spray® Craisins® Dried Cranberries.

Related articles

Happy 30th Birthday Epcot! (chipandco.com)

‘Taste Your Way Around the World’ with a Disney Gift Card at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Presented by Chase (chipandco.com)

Today we’re thrilled to share the very first photos from inside the Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid attraction, which will open at Magic Kingdom Park this December.

Housed in the grottos below Prince Eric’s Castle, this New Fantasyland attraction invites guests to follow Ariel on her remarkable journey as she meets Prince Eric, falls in love, and makes a deal with Ursula, the evil Sea Witch.

These photos, supplied by Walt Disney Imagineering, are featured in the “All in the Details” series on the Disney Parks Blog.

And check out some of Sebastian’s friends above – sure looks like they’re having fun “Under the Sea.

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Concept art for Ariel’s Grotto Meet-And-Greet in New Fantasyland (pics.chipandco.com)

According to WDWMagic.com, Walt Disney Imagineeringhas just completed an organizational reshuffle which appears to point to some significant activity at Walt Disney World in the near future.

Kathy Magnum, a 30 year plus veteran at WDI who has most recently overseen the Cars Land project at Disneyland Resort, has moved to Florida to become ‘Executive Producer, Walt Disney World Portfolio”. In this new role, Kathy becomes the creative producer for Walt Disney World, partnering with Jack Blitch. In her new role, Kathy will continue to report to WDI Chief Creative Executive, Bruce Vaughn. She will also work directly with Meg Crofton and her executive team on behalf of Walt Disney Imagineering.

Joe Rhode continues as creative director at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Eric Jacobson continues with responsibility for the creative side of Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Epcot.

These changes come as Walt Disney World is starting to wrap up on the new Fantasyland expansion, and is nearing ground breaking on AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The world of Walt Disney entertainment is so unique it requires its own language. Some words originated directly from Walt and his Imagineers. Others, it seems, have grown into their own Disneyness and have acquired new meanings along the way.

Attraction = a theme park ride or show
Audio animatronics = realistic robotics that bring 3-D effect to an Attraction
Automagic = play on automatic; the Disney way of making things magically happen
Backstage = a park area not accessible to guests
Cast Member = a Disney theme park or resort employee
Casting center = theme park or resort employment office
Costume = the uniform worn by a Cast Member
Crew Member = Disney Cruise Line employee
Disney point = to point with index and middle finger together; in some cultures it is rude to point with only one finger
Earffel Tower = water tower at DHS; example of wienie
Epcot = from EPCOT, Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow
E-Ticket = the newest, best, most popular attraction; stems from former system of ride coupons ranking rides A-E (A were least popular, E most popular)Fantasmic = lights, lasers, fireworks, and waterworks show at DHS
FastPass = ticket generated to assign Guest a time to return to a busy Attraction without waiting in long line
Guest = visitor to Disney theme park or resort
Hallowishes = special Magic Kingdom fireworks during MNSSHP Halloween celebrations
IllumiNations = fireworks at Epcot
Imagineer = employee of Walt Disney Imagineering (formerly Walter Elias Disney, WED Enterprises); combination of imagine+engineer; scientists and artists who design the Attractions
Innovention = innovation+invention
Mousekeeping = resort housekeeping/maid service
Mouseketeer = play on musketeer; cast members of the TV show The Mickey Mouse Club
On stage = any area where a Cast Member might be seen by Guests
Philharmagic = philharmonic+magic 3-D film at MK
PhotoPass = barcoded card/web access to photos taken by Cast Member photographers
Plussing = constantly striving to improve a project even when it is considered complete
Pooh-sized = big, like Pooh Bear
Protein spill = term used by Cast Members to indicate someone has vomited
Show = everything that encompasses an Attraction or park feature; all the effects & mood setters that combine to make it feel like you’re walking into that world
Utilidors = utility+corridors The underground tunnels at Magic Kingdom that provide access for maintenance, Cast Members, readying, etc.VoluntEARS = The Disney VoluntEARS program provides opportunities for Cast Members to contribute their time and expertise to charitable causes.
Wienie = a visual Attraction or landmark that can be seen by Guests from far away; it is used to guide visitors through park, i.e. Cinderella Castle
Wishes = Magic Kingdom fireworks

Disney has announced via the summer edition of Mickey Monitor, the newsletter for Annual Passholders, that a new attraction will be coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow will be “will be a first-of-its-kind sensory experience in which Guests will have the chance to be enveloped by the world of the Pirates of the Caribbean® as seen in the four feature films.” It is assumed that the new attraction will be located in Stage 4 which was the home to Journey Into Narnia. Jason Roberts, Walt Disney Imagineering Project Manager and Show Producer the new attraction says that “This is going to be an immersive experience” and that they will “put our Guests in the middle of it all in new and exciting ways.”

While it was first reported that this attraction would open this summer, the Disney Parks Blog posted today that it would not open until this fall. An official opening date will be announced later this year. I am excited to see what this new attraction will include. I always liked the idea of Journey into Narnia but I was let down by the actual attraction. I love seeing props from films and I think this is something that Hollywood Studios has been missing.

Two Disney Cast Members are the proud parents of children being honored next month in Washington D.C. as winners of the American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) annual ‘Safety-on-the-Job’ poster contest.

First-place honors went to Victor Fan, the 13-year-old son of Ming Fan, who works in merchandise at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, while 5-year-old Takoda Paschel, the daughter of Christie Paschel with Walt Disney Imagineering, placed third in her age group.

In addition to the awards ceremony and earning a savings bond, the winners will have their posters featured on billboards in Central Florida when North American Occupational Safety and Health Week kicks off May 6.

“As a company that encourages our Cast Members to talk about safety while at work, we’re thrilled when they bring the conversation home and discuss the importance of safety with their children,” said Trevor Larsen, vice president of worldwide safety for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “The annual safety poster contest is a creative way to get kids engaged in thinking about the importance of safety and we were proud to sponsor so many entries from the children of our Cast Members.”

The goal of the contest is to teach children about the importance of safety and help them learn about careers in occupational safety and health. This year’s contest drew a record number of entries, more than 2,300 posters were submitted from the U.S. and 11 other countries, including more than 200 entries from Disney Cast Members’ children and their friends.

We get tons of questions here on Chip and Co about the Fantasyland Expansion. The biggest one is when is it going to open? While I would love to see it open as soon as possible but unfortunately an Expansion this size is going to take some time. Not to mention we are coming up on the busy season at the parks and Disney is not going to open anything when the park is SLAMMED.

But I wouldn’t be a gossip columnist if I didn’t have some tidbits to share. Here is what I do know..

The Little Mermaid Dark Ride is pretty much finished. Navigating to the ride is another story. If you remember way back when Disney said they were going to open the new area in stages but I think through construction issues and ride placement they are going to do the whole thing at once.

Lets be honest wouldn’t you rather have the whole area opened at one time with a big ceremony and not a little here and a little there? I know Chip suffers from Veruca Salt syndrome and wants it now! I think were just going to have to wait a little longer than expected.

I would venture to say we probably won’t see a grand opening till 2013. You can get a good idea on how the construction is going over here on the WDW Magic site.

I know what you’re gonna say now. But Anonymouse how come they opened Storybook Circus already?? That’s easy it’s because that area already had a way in and out

Overall I think it would be wise for Disney to release some details and not rely on the words of Imagineers. They could do a nice little press conference and give us a full update on the park instead of bit and pieces from Gossip Columns like this one

Anywho that is all the Disney Gossip I have right now. For my past Gossip articles be sure to check them out here.

“The Storybook Circus area pays tribute to the traveling circuses of the 1950s and 1960s – the setting for Walt Disney’s Dumbo – and we’ve put a lot of signature Imagineer details into every nook and cranny” said Chris Beatty, Creative Director, Fantasyland Expansion for Walt Disney Imagineering.

Dumbo, one of the circus’ most famed acts, flies guests around the Big Top area – featuring shiny new red and gold colors (inspired by ‘50s- and ‘60s-era tin toys), newly-created signature illustrations from one of the animators of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” and a beautiful new water feature circling the base of the attraction – a first for the Magic Kingdom Park attraction.

“We were truly honored to be asked to design the new Dumbo,” Beatty said. “Every time a new piece of it came in, it would get us excited all over again.”

The Storybook Circus has just set up shop and peanuts, hoof and paw prints can be seen in the walkways – remnants of the circus animals and guests milling about the area.

The Great Goofini, the circus’ stuntman, presents for guests one of his most daring stunts – The Barnstormer – which features an amazing array of aerial acrobatics. Some of the Great Goofini’s other stunts can be seen in posters around the circus area including “Bear Wrasslin” and “Aquamaniac.” The stunts and posters are a tip of the hat to some of the great Goofy short subjects of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

And the Fantasyland Train Station design pays homage to both the elegant train travel of America’s past and Disney history, complete with a Casey-Junior-inspired weather vane and Carolwood Park sign, with “Fair Weather Place,” a nod to “Fair Weather Route,” Walt’s tag line for the Carolwood Pacific Railroad, the steam engine Walt Disney had running through his backyard.

The attractions are in what we, in the biz, call “soft opening,” which means that they will be open at certain times and not at others.

This is just the first phase in what will become the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom Park history – nearly doubling the size of Fantasyland.

Related articles

Fantasyland’s Storybook Circus Will Open By Late March, Snow White Closing May 31st (chipandco.com)

Soft Opening of Storybook Circus and New Buses Coming to Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)

Now entering its fifth year, more than 500 high school students will have participated since Disney’s Dreamers Academy opened its doors in 2008.

A celebrity panel of judges led by comedian, author, philanthropist and Disney’s Dreamers Academy Ambassador Steve Harvey reviewed more than 4,700 applications and selected the 100 students for the Class of 2012 Disney’s Dreamers Academy. Judging criteria included exhibiting curiosity, compassion and leadership skills.

During the 2012 Disney’s Dreamers Academy, students will engage in multiple activities, including interacting with a range of industry professionals and experience immersive introductions to various career paths. Disney’s Dreamers Academy students participate in workshops on a variety of subjects, including entertainment, entrepreneurship, the medical field, culinary arts and creative inspiration from Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative gurus behind Disney’s theme parks and attractions.

“We are thrilled to announce this new class of 100 unique Dreamers who will graduate from the Academy with a whole new perspective on their future,” said Tracey Walters-Powell, executive champion of the program for Disney Parks & Resorts. “We received more applications this year than any other and we have selected an amazing class for this historic fifth year anniversary of the Dreamers Academy.”

“I’ve been with Dreamers Academy from day one and each year the program gets stronger as we add new interactive and experiential components for these students, so to hit the five-year mark is quite an accomplishment,” said Steve Harvey, who has served as Ambassador of Disney’s Dreamers Academy since the program started. “Investing and re-investing in these kids each year, you can really see the pay off as they leave the Academy and start to look at their future in a much different and much brighter light.”

Essence Communications President Michelle Ebanks said, “I am not going to divulge any secrets as to what’s being planned for this important fifth anniversary, but if you know anything about Walt Disney World, you know this life-changing event is going to be a truly amazing spectacular for these students and we are proud to be a part of it.”

Proving that Disney’s Dreamers Academy graduates emerge with a new perspective on life and their career paths, two recent graduates from the Class of 2011 Disney’s Dreamers Academy — Diamond Sims of Miami and Princeton Parker of Los Angeles — were invited to share their stories on the popular blog Huffington Post.

“Disney’s Dreamers Academy was a part of my life that I will never ever forget,” said Sims, who is now a freshman at University of Florida. ” I met people who are from the same place as I am. I met people from all types of professions who were willing to provide advice, guidance and encouragement. In only a few days, they helped mold me into the young woman that I am today.”

Parker,17, who just started his first year of communications studies at the University of Southern California, said: “Disney’s Dreamers Academy changed my life not only by enlarging my dreams and understanding, but also by introducing me to more than 100 other young visionaries who possess the same drive, tenacity, vigor and capacity to dream.”

Speakers Resource Group Added to Enhance Dreamers Academy

To increase the depth of experiences shared at Disney’s Dreamers Academy, a formal speakers resource group has been formed that includes accomplished professionals who serve as program ambassadors and who share common goals: inspiring youth to believe in their dreams and giving them tools to jumpstart their dreams into reality. The Disney’s Dreamers Academy Speakers Resource Group champions students in a variety of ways, including participating in the panel of judges who selected the 100 students to attending the flagship event at Walt Disney World Resort to offering insights about the four-day event curriculum. They also collaborate with Disney in extending Disney’s Dreamers Academy program content into relevant community, educational and entertainment platforms.

For additional information and updates on the program please visit www.disneysdreamersacademy.com or www.facebook.com/disneysdreamersacademy. You can also follow on Twitter @dreamersacademy.

Click on the following thumbnail to view the names and cities of the following students who have been selected to participate in the 2012 Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine:

*Participation is subject to verification and return of the required documentation.

About Steve Harvey: Steve Harvey first performed stand-up comedy in the mid-1980s, which eventually led to a long stint as host of “It’s Showtime at the Apollo.” His success as a stand-up comedian led to multiple TV sitcoms, including: “Me and The Boys”, “The Steve Harvey Show” and “Steve Harvey’s Big Time Challenge.” His first book, “Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man” quickly became a bestseller in 2009 has been made into a motion picture which will be in theatres nationwide in April of 2012. Harvey has appeared on “The Oprah Show,” “Nightline,” “Good Morning America” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Currently, Harvey hosts the nationally syndicated radio show “Steve Harvey Morning Show” which airs in over 60 markets and has more than 7 million listeners. He is also the current host of the television game show Family Feud.

Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) has been busy recreating the castle’s very detailed beauty in the form of the Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.

In this video, provided by WDI, Senior Concept Designer Ted Robledo presents our very first sneak peek inside this highly anticipated restaurant. Imagineers recently put the finishing touches on one of its major elements: a massive mural that will serve as the restaurant’s backdrop. Here, Ted shows how WDI combined digital technology with traditional artistry to create a sweeping landscape that gives guests the feeling that they really are walking into a part of the film.

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Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom opens to Walt Disney World Guests in February (chipandco.com)

If you’ve been a reader of Chip and Company for a while, you’ll know that I wrote a piece about the show “It’s Tough To Be a Bug!” about 9 months ago. So why I am writing another about it so soon, you ask? Because instead of just upgrading it, I’d prefer that we talk about refurbishing the whole space, and get rid of it completely! That’s how much I don’t like this ride!

BBC America is coming out with a new show, called “Would You Rather…” which is a spin on the fun child’s game that my daughter has. To that end, here is my own personal Would You Rather moment. I would rather ride “its a small world” 75 times in a row without stopping than see “It’s Tough To Be a Bug!” once. It’s that bad for me…

However, what should I replace it with? It’s a great venue, there’s no doubt about that. Located inside the Tree of Life at Discovery Island, it could easily become another show in very short order, I think. I’m not privy to attendance numbers, but I don’t think that “Bug’s Life”, as I call it, is always busy. I might be wrong, though, so please correct me in the comments if I am. The more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that the Imagineers could create an awesome show attraction in this very spot dedicated to the classic Disney movie, “The Jungle Book.” That is a movie that is very under-represented at Walt Disney World, and it would be great to include that in an attraction, and what better place than Disney’s Animal Kingdom?

So tell me, what do you think? Would an attraction based on “The Jungle Book” be a good replacement for the “It’s Tough To Be a Bug!” show? If not, why not?

Heck, they could show the press release talking about “Avatarland” on that screen, and it would be an improvement over what’s currently there!